Removable cartridge disk drive with a 1.8 inch form factor

ABSTRACT

A disk drive 30 conforms to the 1.8 inch form factor through of use of, for example, a removable cartridge 200 which has a disk 220 mounted on the hub 226 which hub 226 is manipulatable by a multifunction handle 58 of the disk drive 30, allowing the hub 226 to be seated on the spindle motor nose 56 of the disk drive 30. The multifunction handle 58 of the drive 30 provides for a compact, high capacity design by performing cartridge hub seating operations, cartridge ejection operations, head arm assembly unlocking operations, and handle locking and unlocking operations to ensure proper operation of the disk drive 30. The disk drive 30 includes an inventive ramp 66 design which allows the head arm assembly 64 to be initially received within the cartridge 200 as the cartridge 200 is inserted into its final registration position in the disk drive receiving mechanism 53 and to be more tangent with respect to the disk 220.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to disk drives and, in particular, diskdrives where data is stored on hard disks.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The present assignee holds a number of patents describing removablecartridge disk drives and cartridges therefore. By way of example, thesepatents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,474 issued Mar. 5, 1985; U.S. Pat.No. 4,504,879 issued Mar. 12, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,981 issued Jan.5, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,506 issued Jul. 28, 1987; U.S. Pat. No.4,722,012 issued Jan. 26, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,518 issued Sep. 26,1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,685 issued Oct. 23, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No.4,864,452 issued Sep. 5, 1989. All of these references are incorporatedherein by reference. These patents are directed to a removable cartridgedisk drive which can receive a cartridge containing a hard disk uponwhich can be stored substantial amounts of data comparable, in somecases, to that stored on fixed disk drives.

In reviewing these patents, it is evident that design challenges residein accurately receiving the cartridge into the disk drive cartridgereceiver and settling the hub of the cartridge repeatedly and accuratelyonto the spindle shaft of a spindle motor. The spindle motor causes thedisk contained in the cartridge to rotate at the appropriate operatingspeed. Design challenges also reside in the ability of the head and headarm assembly, located in the disk drive, to be positioned through a doorin the cartridge in order to be loaded onto the disk contained in thecartridge for the read/write operations. Further, the design feature ofreliably ejecting the cartridge from the disk drive once the read/writeoperations have been concluded is addressed.

A removable cartridge disk drive is highly useful for a number ofreasons. The first reason is that a substantial amount of data can bestored on the cartridge, the cartridge can be removed, and, if desired,conveniently shipped to another location. With the requirement totransport ever increasing amounts of data, as for example found ingraphics files, the removable cartridge can store a substantial amountof data which would otherwise require a multitude of floppy disks. Thedata can thus be conveniently sent to, for a example, a publisher forpublishing the graphics.

A second reason for such designs is that removable cartridge disk driveshave an infinite capacity. Once a cartridge is filled with data, thecartridge can be replaced with a blank cartridge. Unlike with fixeddrives, there is no need to trade up to a higher capacity disk drive orto purge lesser used documents from the hard disk drive.

A third reason is that if confidential or secret information iscontained on the disk, the disk can be removed from the disk drive andsecured in a safe location so that the data cannot be accessed byunauthorized individuals.

The trend in the computer market, and in particular the personalcomputer market, is to develop smaller, higher capacity and lessexpensive hardware. Thus, what used to be acceptable as far asperformance and capacity in a desk top computer is now required for anotebook computer but at a substantially reduced size. Accordingly,there is a need to provide computer hardware, and for example, aremovable cartridge disk drive and removable cartridge which is smaller,easier to manufacturer, as for example, having fewer parts, and withhigher data capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing a removable cartridgedisk drive having a smaller form factor, which can be produced moreeconomically, as for example with fewer parts, and with a higher datacapacity.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a removable cartridgedisk drive and cartridge which has a form factor of 1.8 inches andsmaller.

Within this form factor, cartridges containing 40, 60 and 80 megabytesand more of storage can be configured.

The invention includes a system of a disk drive and a removablecartridge which are designed in such a way in order to minimize the sizeof the disk drive and cartridge. Such advantages are achieved by, forexample, limiting the number of parts, designing the parts to performmultiple functions and designing the drive and cartridge system suchthat spaces in the system perform multiple functions such that when thedisk in the cartridge is accurately positioned on a spindle motor foraccess by a read/write head, there is no unwasted space other than thespace required for clearances.

The invention further includes a disk drive which is slidable into adocking port for immediate connection to, for example, a notebook orlaptop computer.

The invention includes a cartridge which has a disk which is movablewithin the cartridge in order to appropriately position the hub whichmounts the disk onto a spindle motor and also to appropriately positionthe disk so that the disk can be accessed by a read/write heads of thedisk drive.

The invention further includes the ability to move the disk intoclearance space in the cartridge preparatory to positioning the hub ofthe cartridge onto a spindle motor and then positioning the disk out ofthe clearance space and the appropriate distance between the walls ofthe cartridge for allowing the spindle motor to spin the disk atoperating speeds.

The invention includes the cartridge having a hub which is extendablepast the envelope of the cartridge in order to allow the disk to bepositioned within the cartridge.

The invention includes a disk drive operating handle which performsmultiple functions in order to allow a cartridge to be received andregistered in a disk drive, allow the read/write heads of the disk driveto access the disk in the cartridge and allow the cartridge to beejected from the disk drive. Such a multiple function handle providesfor a compact design which can be provided on a 1.8 inch form factor.

The invention includes a head arm ramp of the disk drive which allowsthe position of the head to be accurately controlled and allows the headarm to be efficiency, smoothly and dynamically loaded onto the spinningdisk as well as allows the head to be removed from the spinning disk.

The invention includes a disk drive cover which is easy and convenientto assemble to the drive base.

The invention further includes the cartridge having one or moreprojections extended therefrom for operating with the disk drive inorder to register the cartridge with respect to the disk drive and toposition the disk contained in the cartridge so that the disk can beproperly accessed by the read/write heads of the drive.

The invention includes a cartridge design which protects the projectionon the cartridge which are used to interface the cartridge with the diskdrive. In keeping with the space reduction criteria of the design, theseprojections perform additional functions such as (1) ensuring that thecartridge is correctly inserted into the drive, and (2) operating themultifunction handle of the drive.

As part of the innovative cartridge registration design, the screw nutof the cartridge is accurately and repeatedly positioned both axiallyand radially with respect to a receiver in the disk drive to accuratelyposition the cartridge in the drive.

Additionally, the cartridge includes a device for preventing the diskfrom rattling when the cartridge is removed from the disk drive.

A further invention of the cartridge includes the cartridge door and thedoor opening mechanism.

In addition to the reasons for having a disk drive with a reduced formfactor as specified above, is the fact that with a 1.8 inch form factorcartridge, a single project can be assigned to a single cartridge andthus multiple projects can conveniently be stored and transported onmultiple cartridges. This allows greater flexibility for use of suchdrivers with notebook computers.

Other important inventions, features and objects of the disk drive andremovable cartridge are described herein and in the claims and figures.It is to be understood that the invention is multifaceted and that thereis no requirement that the various aspects of the invention describedhereinabove and herein throughout be associated with each other, for theadvantages of the invention to be gained. Thus, there is no requirementthat any particular grouping of the above aspects of the invention bemade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the disk drive ofthe invention.

FIGS. 2a and 2b depict plan and side views of an embodiment of the diskcover of the invention of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d depict an embodiment of the disk drive of theinvention of FIG. 1 with disk drive in non-operational, intermediate andoperational modes.

FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d depict an embodiment of the multifunctionoperating handle of the disk drive of the invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the baseplate of the invention of FIG.1.

FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d depict an embodiment of the ramp of theinvention of FIG. 1 with the head arm assembly and head positionedrelative to the ramp in FIGS. 6c and 6d.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view through FIG. 8, showing thecartridge mounted on the spindle motor of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 depicts a cartridge of the invention received in the embodimentof the disk drive of the invention of FIG. 1 with the cartridge doorfully opened.

FIG. 9 depicts a top perspective view of the cartridge of the invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a bottom perspective view of the cartridge of theinvention.

FIGS. 11a and 11b depict an embodiment of the cartridge of the inventionof FIG. 9 with the cover removed to reveal the door and link mechanismsof other inventive features.

FIG. 12a depicts a bottom view of the cartridge of the invention of FIG.9.

FIG. 12b depicts the cartridge screw and cartridge nut of the embodimentof the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 12a.

FIG. 13a depicts a front edge view of an embodiment of the cartridge ofthe invention of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13b depicts a side edge view of the embodiment of the cartridge ofthe invention of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 depicts the inside of the bottom of the cartridge of theinvention of FIG. 9, showing the location of the cartridge nut of FIG.12b.

FIGS. 15a, 15b and 15c depict cross-sectional views of the cartridge ofFIG. 9, revealing specifically the cartridge screw, cartridge nut, thecartridge bottom and the disk in operation, non-operation andintermediate positions.

FIGS. 16a, 16b and 16c depict views of the cartridge screw of theembodiment of the invention of FIG. 9. FIG. 16c depicts the entireperipheral edge of the screw as shown in FIG. 16a which edge has beenplaced on a flat surface.

FIGS. 17a, 17b and 17c depict the inventive interaction between theembodiment of the cartridge screw of the embodiment of FIG. 9 and theembodiment of the disk drive handle of the disk drive embodiment of FIG.1.

FIGS. 18, 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d depict the inventive interactions of theembodiment of the disk drive handle of the invention in FIG. 1 with anembodiment of the cartridge of the invention of Figure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Removable Cartridge and Cartridge Housing:

It is to be understood that in a preferred embodiment, that the heightof the disk drive 30 is 10.5 millimeters and that the disk drive isconfigured to take a cartridge with a disk having a diameter ofapproximately 1.8 inches. In a specific embodiment, the diameter of thedisk is about 1.890 inches. By way of comparison, the cartridge 200 ofthe invention as shown in FIG. 9 has a width across the front side ofthe cartridge where the door is located of approximately 1.968 inches(49.98 millimeters) and a length or depth of 2.03 inches (51.56millimeters). The height or thickness of the cartridge is 0.222 inches(5.64 millimeters).

The removable cartridge 200 of the invention (FIG. 9) includes a topcover 202 which is mated to a base 204 (FIG. 10). The top cover can bemade of molded engineering plastic or metal and can be secured to thebase using snap fits 207, adhesive bonding or by screws. The base 204can be comprised of, for example, a molded engineering plastic.

Viewing FIG. 10, it is evident that mounted through the base is acartridge screw 206 with a tang 208 projecting therefrom. Base 204includes a substantially planar surface 210 with first and secondprojections 212, 214 extending therefrom. The tang 208 also extends awayfrom the planar surface 210. Surrounding the tang 208 and the first andsecond projections 212, 214, and protecting same from damage, is aperipheral rail 216. As shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral rail 216extends above the planar surface 210 and about three of the fourperipheral edges of the base 204. The one peripheral edge 218 from whichthe peripheral rail does not extend is the leading side 218 of thecartridge (FIG. 13a) which defines a cartridge port through which theheads can be projected in order to access the hard disk 220 contained inthe cartridge 200. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow, thecartridge screw 206 includes, in a preferred embodiment, three screwthreads 224 (embodied as grooves in this configuration) which mate withcartridge nut threads 222 which are defined in the cartridge base 204(FIGS. 12b, 14). Thus movement of the tang 208 causes the cartridgescrew 206 to move relative to the cartridge nut 221 of cartridge base204.

Mounted in the center of the cartridge screw 206 is the cartridge hub226 onto which is mounted the disk 220 (FIG. 15a). The cartridge hub 226includes a spindle nose engagement mechanism 228 which is used toaccurately and repeatedly cause the hub 226 to be engaged and positionedon the spindle nose 56 of the spindle motor 54. The spindle motorengagement mechanism 228 includes, in a preferred embodiment, includesfirst and second contact points or bosses 230, 232. The engagementmechanism 228 further includes an elongated groove 234 within which isdisposed a stiff spring locator 236. With spindle motor engagementmechanism 228 positioned over the spindle motor nose 56, the springlocator 236 is displaced causing the spindle motor nose 56 to be locatedby essentially three points defined by the two contact point 230, 232and a point on the spring locator 236.

Cartridge Screw

A more detailed view of the cartridge screw 206 can be seen in FIGS.16a, 16b and 16c. In FIG. 16a a plan view of the cartridge screw 206 isdepicted. It can be seen that the cartridge screw 206 includes screwthreads 224. In a preferred embodiment, the screw threads 224 arespecified as follows. The thread form is 60° stub as viewed normal tothe pitch helix. The pitch angle is 30° with a left handed thread beingspecified. The pitch diameter is 0.733-0.000+0.003 with a lead of 1.330.The thread pitch is 0.065 normal to the pitch helix. Three equallyspaced thread starts are provided. Reference is further called to theAmerican Standard B1-3-1941. A similar mating thread is defined by a nutthread 222 in the base 204 (FIG. 10) of the cartridge housing.

As can be seen in FIG. 15a, the disk 220 is secured to the hub 226 bymethods known in the art such as by use of appropriate adhesives and/ormechanical techniques. The cartridge screw 206 is retained between aflange 238 projecting from the hubs 226 and a retainer ring 240 whichcan be positioned in an annular groove 242 of the hub after positioningthe cartridge screw 206 adjacent the flange 238. It is noted that thereis substantial leeway between the flange 238 and the retainer 240 sothat the cartridge screw 206 can alternatively urge against the flange238 and retainer ring 240 in order to position the disk 220 in thecartridge 200 while also allowing the cartridge screw to be spaced fromboth the flange 238 and the retainer 240 during read/write operations aswill be described hereinbelow. Also positioned in the cartridge 200 is acartridge door pivot 274 and spacer 244.

In FIG. 15a, the cartridge hub is positioned engaging the spindle nose56. This is the position that the hub 226 and disk 220 would occupy withthe disk being rotated at an operating speed by the spindle motor andwith the disk having the appropriate clearances between the cartridgetop cover 202 and the cartridge base 204. In this configuration, the hub226 is spaced an appropriate distance from the cartridge door pivot andspacer 244 with the cartridge screw 206 spaced between the flange 238and the retainer 240 without touching either. As can be seen in FIGS. 7and 15a, in the operational position, both the nut 206 and the hub 226project below the plane of the planar surface 210 of the cartridge base204.

FIG. 15b depicts a cross-section as the cartridge would appear when thecartridge is external to disk drive. In this figure, it can be seen thatthe hub 226 is pushed up against the cartridge door pivot and spacer 244by the cartridge screw 206 being urged against the flange 238 of the hub226 pursuant to the urging of a spring 258 (FIG. 12b). This is ananti-rattle configuration of the hub and thus the disk is retained in astationary position relative to the cartridge housing.

In FIG. 15c, the cartridge screw 206 is urging against the retainer 240as the spindle nose engagement mechanism 228 begins to engage thespindle nose 56. As can be seen in FIG. 15c the spring locator 236 isjust beginning to engage the spindle nose 56. The magnetic ring 57 onthe spindle motor then proceeds to draw the hub 226 into contact withthe spindle motor with the hub 226 fully seated on the spindle nose 56as shown in FIGS. 7 and 15a.

Cartridge Base

FIG. 14 depicts an inner surface 246 of the base 204 without any partsof the cartridge assembled thereto. As can be seen in FIG. 14, the baseincludes a central port 248 which defines the cartridge nut 221 and thenut threads 222. The nut threads 222 mate to the screw threads 224 ofthe cartridge screw 206. The cartridge screw 206 is held in positionrelative to the cartridge base 204 by a key 250 (FIG. 12b). Key 250 ispositioned in a slot 252 of the cartridge screw 206. The key 250includes a tab 254 which extends into a slot 256 defined by thecartridge base 204. The tab 254 of the key 250 allows the key 250 andthe cartridge screw 206 to have limited rotational movement with respectto the cartridge base 204 with the tab 254 moving from one end to theother of the slot 256. The key 250 is biased in the first position,shown in FIG. 12b, by a spring 258. In this first position, the tang 208is in a position which is properly aligned for reception by the drive 30as will be described hereinbelow. In order for the disk to be properlypositioned within the cartridge, preparatory to bring the disk up tooperating speed, the tang, as will be described hereinbelow, is movedapproximately 13.5° in order to reposition the disk. The slot 256 isapproximately 15° wide allowing for variations and backlash.

As can be seen in FIG. 14, an upstanding spiral wall 260 extends fromthe base 204 and spirals from the central port 248 to the side of thecartridge. The spiral wall 260 is used to move air toward the cartridgefilter which is located in space 262 so that the air can be exhaustedthrough port 264. Defined in the cartridge base 204 are recesses 266,270. These recesses are used to accommodate the portion of the head armassembly which mounts the head 68 as the cartridge is inserted into thedisk drive and as the head arm assembly is being ramped down onto aspinning disk so that the head 68 can be loaded onto the disk 220.

Cartridge Door

Turning to FIGS. 11a and 11b, the cartridge door 272 is depicted in anopen position (FIG. 11a) and a closed position (FIG. 11b). Door 272 ispivotally mounted at pivot point 274 to the cartridge door pivot andspacer 244 as can be seen in FIG. 15a. Pivotally secured to thecartridge door 272 at pivot point 276 there is a door opener link 278.The door opener link 278 includes a first section 280 and a secondsection 282 which is angled with respect to the first section 280 anddisposed to ride in a groove 284 defined by the cartridge base 204. Atthe end of the second section 282is a downwardly dependent tab 286. Acoil spring 288 is captured between the downwardly dependent tab 286 andthe back of the groove 284. A finger 170 (FIG. 3a) from the disk driveis inserted through port 290 to urge the tab 286 against the spring 288,thereby urging the door opener link 278 rearwardly causing the door topivot about pivot point 274 from the closed position of FIG. 11b to theopen position of FIG. 11a. When finger 170 is removed from port 290, thespring 288 causes the tab 286 to move forward towards the leading side218 of the cartridge urging the door 272 to pivot to the closed positionof FIG. 11b.

FIG. 8 depicts an outline of an cartridge fully received within thedrive. A finger 170 projects through the port in the cartridge in orderto urge rearwardly the door opener link 278 thus causing the door topivot to the open position as shown in FIG. 8. This action occurs oninitial insertion of the cartridge into the drive as the heads even in aparked position (due to compactness of the drive) are immediatelyreceived within the enclosure of the cartridge even before they areunloaded onto the disk. FIG. 8 depicts the internal mechanisms of thedrive in the same position as FIG. 3d.

The cartridge has been specially designed for the above functions andadditionally has been designed so that it cannot be inadvertentlyinserted into the receiver of the disk drive in an improper orientation.By way of example only, handle 58 which extends up from the baseplate 32of the disk drive, would hit against the rail 216 of the cartridge orthe cover 202 of the cartridge (if the cartridge is upside down) if therear side 292 or the lateral sides 294 296 were urged into the diskdrive cartridge receiver instead of the leading side 218. Whether thecartridge is right side up or upside down if other than the leading side218 is inserted into the cartridge receiver of the disk drive, thehandle 58 would interfere with the passage of the cartridge and thusprotect the heads. Further, should the leading side 218 be insertedfirst, but the cartridge be upside down, the cover 202 of the cartridgewould prevent the cartridge from being fully received in the disk drivecartridge receiver as the cover would interfer with the handle 58. Onlywhen the cartridge is properly inserted does the absence of a raildownwardly depending adjacent to leading side 218 allow the cartridge toclear the handle 58 so that the cartridge can be properly registeredwithin the drive.

FIG. 7 is across-sectional view of the cartridge 200 located in thedrive receiver 53. As can be seen in this figure and FIG. 11a, thecartridge door 272 is substantially "L" shaped in cross-section with awedge shaped radial arm portion 298 from which a downwardly dependentarcuate side 300 extends. Side 300 is disposed in part in groove 302defined in the cartridge base 204. Groove 302-defines a track forarcuate side 300. The door 272 seals the disk 220 from the outside bybeing disposed across the cartridge door port 205.

In FIG. 7 the retainer 62 is depicted with a chamfered head 63 and thecartridge screw 206 is also depicted with a chamfered or beveled edge207. Chamfered edge 207 for the cartridge screw can additionally be seenin FIGS. 15a, 15b and 15c. These two chamfered edges come in slidingengagement with each other as the cartridge screw is being loweredtoward the spindle motor by the handle 58. As this occurs, the cartridgescrew is accurately positioned both axially and radially with respect tothe retainer 62 as can be seen in FIG. 7 in the final resting position.The chamfered edges 62, 207 cause the cartridge screw 206 to beinitially engaged and properly centered with the retainer 62 as thecartridge screw 206 is being urged down toward the retainer 62 by thehandle 58. A distinct advantage of this arrangement is that as thecartridge screw is engaged in a thread of the nut of the cartridge base204, the cartridge base 204 is in effect rigidly positioned with respectto the cartridge screw 206. Thus, with the cartridge screw 206 bothaxially and radially positioned by the retainer 62, the cartridge itselfis accurately positioned with respect to the retainer 62 and thecartridge receiver of the disk drive. This provides an inventiveapparatus and method of registering the cartridge with respect to thedisk drive so that the heads can be accurately unloaded.

Disk Drive and Disk Drive Housing

Referring to the figures and, in particular, to FIG. 1, an embodiment ofthe removable cartridge disk drive of the invention is depicted andidentified by the numeral 30. The disk drive 30 includes a disk drivebase 32, which in a preferred embodiment, can be cast from aluminum orother suitable material. The base cover 34 is secured onto the base 32.The base 32 defines base rails 36, 38 which can be used to cause thedisk drive 30 to be slidably received into a PC MCIA interface such thatthe disk drive is slidable into and out of use with appropriatenotebook, laptop or palmtop computers. The disk drive includesappropriate docking connectors 40 which communicate power, data,addresses and other signals between the disk drive 30 and themicroprocessor or other computing means which requires data to be storedon the disk drive 30. The disk drive 30 includes a spring biased door 88which is pivotally mounted to base 32.

FIGS. 2a and 2b depict the plan and side view of the base cover 34 ofthe invention which provide for ease of connection of the cover to thebase and to limit the space required. The cover includes "J" shapedfingers 42 projecting from the sides 44 of the cover 34 adjacent tofront end 46 of the cover. Through the upper surface of the rear portionof the cover are disposed bores 48 through which screws can be providedin order to secure the disk drive cover 34 to the base 32. In practice,the "J" shaped fingers 42 are positioned in the disk drive base openings48 defined in the base 32 and locked under the base 32, with screwspositioned through bores 48 received in the threaded bores 52 (FIG. 3a)defined in the base 32. Such an arrangement can conveniently hold thedisk drive onto the base while minimizing the number and size offasteners required.

Disk Drive Multifunction Handle Arrangement

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d depict an embodiment of the disk drive of theinvention of FIG. 1 with the disk cover 34 removed to reveal theinternal operating mechanisms of the invention. FIG. 3a depicts the diskdrive 30 preparatory to the insertion of cartridge 200 into the diskdrive. FIG. 3b depicts the position on the mechanisms with the cartridgeregistered and the cartridge hub not as yet unloaded onto the spindlemotor of the disk drive. FIG. 3c depicts the position of the mechanismof the drive with the cartridge hub engaging the nose of the spindlemotor. FIG. 3d depicts the internal mechanism with the heads unloadedonto the disk contained in the cartridge.

Describing the internal mechanisms of the disk drive in greater detail,FIG. 3a depicts a spindle motor 54 which, in a preferred embodiment, isaffixed to the base 32 and stationary with respect to said base 32. Thespindle motor 54 includes a spindle motor shaft or nose 56.

Positioned about the spindle motor 54 is the multifunction handle 58.The multifunction handle 58 is shown by itself in FIGS. 4a through 4d.This multifunction handle 58 includes a central opening 60 which isretained by a handle retainer 62 so that the handle 58 can be pivotedabout the spindle motor 54 during the operation of seating the cartridge200 onto the spindle nose 56, and unlocking the head arm assembly sothat it can be unloaded down ramp 66 with the head or transducer 68unloaded onto the spinning disk 220.

The multifunction handle 58 includes an operator lever 70 and acartridge engaging lever 72. Cartridge engaging lever 72 can be engagedby the first and second projections 212, 214 which are downwardlydepending from the cartridge base 204 as will be described more fullyhereinbelow. The multifunction handle 58 includes a central annular body74. Defined in the annular body 74, adjacent the operator lever 70, iscartridge tang engagement mechanism 76. This mechanism 76 includes apassageway 78 for initially receiving the tang 208 of the cartridge 200.As is evident from FIG. 10, upon insertion of the cartridge into thedrive, the tang 208 trails the spindle nose engagement mechanism 228 ofthe cartridge 200 so that when the spindle nose engagement mechanism 228is essentially above the spindle nose 56, the tang 208 is disposed inpassageway 78 of the cartridge tang engagement mechanism 76 as can beseen represented schematically in FIG. 17a.

The cartridge tang engagement mechanism 76 further includes a cartridgeseating tab 80 and a cartridge unseating tab 82. Immediately below thecartridge seating tab 80 is a groove 84 which can receive the tang 208as described hereinbelow. Inserting the cartridge fully into the drive,causes the cartridge engaging lever 72 to be engaged by the firstcartridge projection 212 which, in a preferred embodiment, isessentially parallel to a radius of the disk 220 (FIG. 18a). Thus,insertion of the cartridge 200 into the cartridge receiver 86 throughthe disk drive door 88 causes the operator level 70 to be rotated by thefirst projection 212 pushing against the cartridge engaging lever 72, ina preferred embodiment, approximately 18° to the position shown in FIGS.3b and 18b. At this point the operator can easily access the operatorlever 70 and as shown in FIG. 17a the tang 208 is engaged by thecartridge seating tab 80.

Once the operator lever 70 extends from the drive 30, the operator canurge the operator lever 70 to the position shown in FIGS. 3c and 18cwhich is approximately 13.5° from the position shown in FIGS. 3b and 18bfor a total of approximately 31.5° from the non-operational cartridgeunload position of the handle (FIGS. 3a and 18a). During the rotation ofthe operator lever 70, the incremental 13.5° from the position of FIGS.3b and 18b to the position of FIGS. 3c and 18c, the disk and the hub ofthe cartridge are urged downwardly toward the spindle motor by thecartridge screw acting against the threads on the cartridge nut locatedin the cartridge base. As the hub approaches the spindle motor, the hubbegins to engage the spindle nose, and the spindle magnetic ring 57pulls the hub fully onto the nose in order to securely position the hubof the cartridge onto the spindle nose (FIG. 7). As can be seen in FIG.17b , as this occurs, the tang 208 moves downwardly between tabs 80 and82 to rest in the lower position as shown in FIG. 17b. At this point,the cartridge is fully seated onto the spindle motor. The operator lever70 can then be urged by the operator up to an additional 18.5°(including 2° for backlash) to the fully closed position in order toallow the heads to be unloaded onto the disk as will be describedhereinbelow. When this occurs, the tang 208 remains stationary and islocked into the groove 84 as the tab 80 passes over the tang 208. Thisovertravel allows for the multifunction handle 58 to perform a functionof unlocking the head arm assembly 64 and other functions describedbelow without effecting the position of the cartridge hub secured to thespindle motor and the disk in the cartridge. Thus during overtravel, thehandle 58 moves to the final operational position shown in FIGS. 3d and18d which, as will be described below, allows the head arm assembly tobe released.

Prior to cartridge ejection, the cartridge unseating tab 82 is movedclockwise to apply force on the tang to unseat the hub from the spindlemotor. This occurs as the operator lever is moved clockwise from theposition of FIGS. 3c and 18c to the position of FIGS. 3b and 18b.

As can be determined by viewing FIGS. 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d, theinsertion of the cartridge into the cartridge receiver causes the firstprojection 212, extending from the cartridge base 204, to engage thecartridge engaging lever 72 urging the lever to the position shown inFIG. 18b. It is noted that the second projection 214 slides past thecartridge engaging lever 72 with the operator lever in thenon-operational, most leftward position as shown in FIGS. 3a and 18a.Upon cartridge ejection, the first cartridge projection 212 urgesagainst the cartridge engaging lever 72 to eject the cartridge as theoperator lever 72 is moved from the position of FIGS. 3b and 18b to theposition of FIGS. 3a and 18a. As discussed elsewhere, if the operatorlever 70 is not fully seated in the non-operational position of FIGS. 3aand 18a, then the second cartridge projection 214 which is, in apreferred embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the first cartridgeprojection 212, engages lever 72 to urge the operator lever 70 to theposition of FIGS. 3a and 18a.

Disk Drive Handle Cartridge Ejection Function

The multifunction handle 58 further performs a cartridge ejectionfunction. The handle includes a groove 90 within which is disposed aspring 92 (FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d). A pin 94 is upstanding from thebase 32 of the disk drive 30 and is disposed in the groove 90. As theoperator lever 70 is moved approximately 18.5° from the position of FIG.3c and 18c to the position of FIGS. 3d and 18d wherein the handle 58overrides the tang 208 of the cartridge screw 206, the spring 92 iscompressed between the pin 94 and the end of the groove 90. Themultifunction handle 58 is locked in this position by the latch 124 aswill be discussed hereinbelow. When read/write operations have ceased,the latch 124 releases the handle 58 and the spring 92 causes theoperator lever 70 to extend out of drive to the position shown in FIGS.3c and 18c. At this point, the operator can urge the lever to the leftto the position of FIGS. 3a and 18a. By so doing, this action unseatsthe hub of the cartridge from the spindle nose, and then the cartridgeengaging lever 72 engages the first projection 212 which extends fromthe cartridge base in order to urge the cartridge out of the drive.Should the operator lever 70 not be fully pushed to the leftmost,non-operational position as shown in FIGS. 3a and 18a, the secondprojection 214 will come in contact with the cartridge engaging lever 72to urge the handle 58 in a counter-clockwise motion insuring that theoperator lever 70 is fully to the leftmost, non-operational position. Sopositioned, the operator lever is concealed in the drive so that itcannot be inadvertently actuated prior to a cartridge being insertedinto the drive. Additionally the heads and head arm assembly loaded onthe ramps are not damaged by being prematurely unloaded onto thecartridge receiver 86 without the cartridge received therein.

Handle Overcenter and Head Arm Assembly Lock Function

The multifunction handle 58 performs a number of other functions.Engaging a groove 98 in a periphery of the multifunction handle 58 is anovercenter link 100 which pivots about pin 102 upstanding from the drivebase 32. The overcenter link 100 defines a groove in which is loaded thepin 102 and a spring 104. As the multifunction handle is rotated in acounter-clockwise manner from the position of FIG. 3a to the position ofFIG. 3c, a finger projection 106 of overcenter link 100 which is engagedin the groove 98 of the multifunction handle 58, is urged in acounter-clockwise manner from the position of FIG. 3a to the position ofFIG. 3c. As this occurs, the spring 104 is compressed as the overcenterposition is reached. The purpose of the overcenter link 100 is to lockthe multifunction handle 58 in the non-operational position as shown inFIG. 3a and can also be used to assist in ejecting the cartridge 200from the drive 30. It is to be understood that the cartridge can beejected by the handle 58. However, in some embodiments, the overcenterlink 100 can be used to urge against the handle to assist with thecartridge ejection. Inserting the cartridge 200 into the disk drive 30and having the operator actuate the operator lever in acounter-clockwise motion overcomes the overcenter link 100 in order tounlock the multifunction handle 58. Adjacent to the groove 98 is asecond groove 108 defined in the periphery of handle 58. A push linkcrank 116 is pivotally mounted to the disk drive base 32 at pivot point112 such that the crank 116 can pivot from the position shown in FIG. 3ato the position shown in FIG. 3d thus pivoting in a clockwise manner asthe multifunction handle 58 is urged in a counter-clockwise manner. Thecrank 116 includes a cam follower 114 which follows a peripheral edge ofthe handle 58 until it resides in the groove 108 as can be seen in FIG.3d. This occurs at the end of the overtravel motion of the handle 58. Asthis occurs, the push link crank 116 which is pivotally secured at pivotpoint 118 to an extension of the crank 110 is moved toward the spindlemotor 54, releasing the head arm assembly 64. In a preferred embodiment,a pin 120 extends downwardly from the head arm assembly 64 and isengaged by the extension link 116. Causing the multifunction handle 58to rotate in a clockwise direction causes the crank 116 to move in acounter-clockwise direction urging the link 116 against the pin 120 tocause the head arm assembly to be lifted off the disk 220 and urged upthe ramp 66.

Handle Latch

Preceding in a counter-clockwise manner about the handle 58 anothergroove 122 is defined in the periphery of the handle. This groove isdesigned to mate with the latch 124 in order to lock the handle in theoperational position shown in FIGS. 3d and 18d with the cartridge fullyreceived in the cartridge receiver, the cartridge hub mounted on thespindle motor nose, and the head arm assembly unlocked. The latch 124pivots about pivot point 126 and a spring biases the latch toward thehandle 58 so that it will be urged into groove 122 when groove 122presents itself to the projection 128 from the latch 124. As thisoccurs, a spring biased interposer 130 is urged downwardly towards thedoor opening side 132 of the disk drive. A projection 134 on theinterposer then falls into a slot 136 defined in the latch to retain thelatch in a locked position. In an emergency situation with power removedfrom the disk drive, a small diameter wire can be inserted through aport 138 in the door opening side 132 of the disk drive 30 in order tourge the interposer to become disengaged from the latch, so that spring92 contained in the handle 58 will urge the handle 58 to extend from thedisk drive (FIGS. 3c and 18c) so that the operator can manually turn theoperator lever clockwise from the position of FIGS. 3c and 18c to theposition of FIGS. 3a and 18a in order to cause the cartridge to beejected from the disk drive.

In normal operation, the latch 124 is disengaged from the groove 122 ofthe handle by use of the solenoid 140 which pulls up on the solenoidlink 142 and which in turn pulls up on the interposer 130 to release thelatch 124.

It is to be understood that alternatively, the latch 124 can be replacedwith a solenoid which would have a plunger which would engage groove 122of the handle. An appropriate emergency release mechanism which can bemanually operated from the door opening side 132 would release thehandle should power to the disk drive cease with a cartridge locked inthe disk drive cartridge receiver.

Disk Drive Ramp

In FIG. 3a, the head arm assembly 64 is pivotally mounted at pivot point144 and is actuated by a voice coil motor 146. As previously indicatedthe head arm assembly 64 can be loaded onto the disk 220 from the ramp66. As seen in FIGS. 6a through 6d, the ramp 66 is of an innovativedesign and includes upper and lower head arm landing surfaces 148, 150.The ramp 66 is secured to the base by appropriate fastening means atpoint 152 with a pin 154 upstanding from the base received in a slot 156of the ramp. In a preferred embodiment, the arm loading surfaces 148,150 terminate in a landing ridge 158, 160. In a preferred embodiment,the head arm loading surfaces 148, 150 slope downwardly from the ridges158, 160 at approximately a 2.74° slope. The head arm assembly 64includes an arm 164, a leafspring 166, a load beam 168 and a gimblemount 169 to which the read/write head 68 is mounted. As can be seen inFIG. 6c, a lower corner 162 of the head arm loading surface 148 is firstto engage a portion of the load beam 168 of the head arm assembly 64. Inthe position with the head arm assembly fully received on the ramp 66,the load beam 168 is supported by the ridge 158 nearly adjacent to thegimble mount 169 and read/write head 68. The reason for this arrangementis that the ramp 66 needs to be able to remove the head from the disk ata point well before the portion of head arm assembly 64 adjacent thehead can be picked up by the ramp 66. Thus, the ramp picks up a portionof the load beam 168 well removed from the head 68 as can be seen inFIG. 6c. It is further to be understood that due to the confinedspacing, as the cartridge is received into the disk drive, that thecartridge door is opened and the heads, fully loaded on the ramp 66, arereceived in the cartridge. Accordingly, there is a need to exactlycontrol the position of the heads so that they are not damaged by thecartridge as the cartridge is urged into the disk drive. Thus, as seenin FIG. 6d, the ramp 66 needs to accurately control the load beam 168adjacent to the head. Once the disk is properly positioned within thecartridge due to the motion of the cartridge screw, the load beam canmove down the arm loading surfaces 148, 150 so that the heads areunloaded onto the spinning disk.

As can be seen in the present embodiment, the ramp 66 picks up and firstengages the load beam 168 at a point which is distance from the locationwhere the head is mounted and, in fact, as shown in FIG. 6c is adjacentto the leafspring 166. As the voice coil motor rotates the head armassembly 64, the load beam 168 moves up the ramp such that the head 68is positioned accurately by the ridge 158 of the ramp 66 which contactsthe load beam 168 substantially adjacent to the location where the headis mounted. Thus, a substantial portion of the load beam is traversed bythe ramp as the load beam moves relative to the ramp.

The disk drive and cartridge can be made of a number of materials as areknown in the trade. Some of these materials are disclosed in the aboveprior art references. By way of example only, the cartridge cover can bemade of aluminum with the bottom of the cartridge made of plastic suchas polycarbonate. The base of the disk drive can be made of castaluminum with the top made of formed aluminum. Other plastics which canbe used for the parts in addition to polycarbonate and include Delrin®,Nylon® and the like. These parts can include graphite and nyloncomposites and other composites and in addition have Teflon® compositesin order to increase lubricity.

Industrial Applicability

The operation and further advantages of the invention are as follows.First it is evident from the above that the above design accomplishes aremovable cartridge disk drive and removable cartridge that successfullyfits within a 1.8 inch form factor wherein the disk is approximately 1.8inches in diameter and the height of the drive is 10.5 millimeters. Inthis form factor, 40, 60 and 80 megabyte and greater capacity cartridgescan be used. The ability of the drive to conform to the 1.8 inch formfactor is attributable to a number of factors taken separately, whichseparate factors also offer additional advantages taken together. Thesefactors include the fact that the disk drive and the removable cartridgeact as a system, which minimize the number of parts and which has ahighly inventive system interface for allowing the cartridge to bereceived, the disk to be properly positioned and the remaining functionsof the disk drive to be carried out. In particular, in order toaccomplish the 1.8 inch form factor the cartridge, has been designed sothat the disk and the hub on which the disk is mounted can be relocatedrelative to the housing of the cartridge in order to have the hub clearthe spindle motor and spindle motor nose as the cartridge is insertedinto the cartridge receiving mechanism of the disk drive. This resultsin an efficiency of utilization of space so that after the hub ismounted on the spindle motor there is no unnecessary dead space above orbelow the cartridge that does not have a purpose. That is to say thatthe disk and the hub are movable in the normal clearance space requiredby the disk when it is spinning relative to the housing walls. Movablewithin this clearance space, the disk and hub can be engaged with thespindle motor nose and once this engagement has occurred, the disk isproperly spaced between the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridgehousing. In this configuration, the hub extends from the envelope of thecartridge housing. Such an arrangement accordingly does not require thatthe cartridge be moved in the drive in order to properly position thehub on the spindle motor or that the spindle motor be moved in order toengage the hub of the cartridge, both activities potentially creatingwasted space once the drive is actually operating.

Further, with respect to the cartridge and disk drive interface, thecartridge has several projections extending therefrom which can engagethe internal mechanisms of the disk drive in order to ensure properoperation of the disk drive once the cartridge is received into thecartridge receiving mechanism. This interface assists in limiting thenumber of moving parts required in the disk drive, allowing the parts tohave multifunctions and assisting in accomplishing the 1.8 inch formfactor design. By way of example, the cartridge screw includes a tangextending therefrom. The engagement of the tang with the multifunctionhandle of the disk drive causes the repositioning of the disk within thecartridge and assists in locking the tang and thus the cartridge to thedisk drive during disk drive operation. Further, the cartridgeprojections assist in positioning the multifunction handle. Theprojections further provide a compact mechanism for allowing thecartridge to be ejected from the drive and also ensuring that theoperator level in the full non-operational position once the cartridgehas been removed from the drive. The cartridge includes a rail whichprotects the tang and projections from damage. This rail has anadditional function of preventing the cartridge from being incorrectlyinserted in the drive.

It is noted that there are other multifunction purpose of the cartridgescrew and cartridge design. When the cartridge is removed from the diskdrive and for example being transported, the hub is urged up against aspacer in order to place the disk in a stationary position relative tothe housing so that there is no rattle of the disk in the cartridge. Aspring mechanism within the cartridge urges the cartridge screw to the aposition so that the hub butts up against the spacer to accomplishingthe anti-rattle function. The spacer also provides a mount for pivotallymounting the cartridge door.

A further aspect which allows the disk drive to be compact, efficientand meet the 1.8 inch form factor and also smaller form factors is thedesign of the arm ramp which allows for the exact positioning of theheads so that as the cartridge is inserted into the drive, the ramp andheads simultaneously come within the envelope of the cartridge housingand prior to the cartridge hub being seated on the spindle motor. Thisarrangement allows the disk drive to be shorter in length, and alsoallows the heads, parked in a stationary position loaded on the ramps,to be positioned as close as possible to the disk. This allows, forexample, for the head to be tangent with more of the tracks resulting ingreater recording efficiencies.

Further the above design allows the entire disk drive to be slidable anddockable in a port provided on a notebook or other computing device.

The above compactness is in addition attributed to the multifunctionhandle located within the disk drive and adjacent to the cartridgereceiving mechanism. The handle performs the functions of (1) engagingthe cartridge and locking the cartridge in position, (2) positioning thehub and disk so that the hub engages the spindle motor nose and the diskis properly positioned within the cartridge, (3) ejecting the cartridgewhen desired, (4) releasing the head arms assembly so that they can beunloaded from the ramp onto the disk for read/write operations, (5)pivoting an overcenter link in order to lock the handle in thenon-operational position and (6) allowing a mechanism to lock the handlein a fully operational position.

Even the disk drive cover affords compactness in design in that it hasappropriate catches for engaging the base of the disk drive and onlyrequires a minimal number of fasteners to secure to disk drive base.

In addition to the above, the cartridge further includes an internalspiral wall for assisting and directing air within the cartridge to exitthe cartridge through a filter. The cartridge additionally has recessesformed in the internal surface of the housing in order to accommodatethe heads and ramp prior to the heads being loaded onto the disk.

It is to be understood that other objects, aspects and inventivefeatures can be obtained from a review of the figures and claims.Further, it is to be understood that embodiments other than thosepresented herein can be fabricated and come within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described herein.

We claim:
 1. A disk drive having a stationary motor adapted forreceiving a removable cartridge which contains a disk for storing data,the disk mounted on a hub, the cartridge including a tang and amechanism to raise and lower the hub and disk relative to the cartridgewhen the tang is rotated so that the hub can engage the motor of thedisk drive, the disk drive comprising:handle positioned adjacent to themotor, which handle rotates in a first direction to urge the hub towardthe motor and in a second direction to unseat the hub from the motor;said handle having a cartridge seating tab, the cartridge seating tabengaging the tang when the handle is rotated in the first direction torotate the tang to lower the hub toward the motor; and said handlehaving a cartridge unseating tab, the cartridge unseating tab engagingthe tang when the handle is rotated in the second direction to rotatethe tang to cause the hub to unseat from the motor.